I understand that the University of Minnesota has developed a
biodegradable plastic using protein from grains and starch from
other plants. Here's a website that may help you find out who the
researchers are, and I hope they have information about whether
this material is environmentally benign.
http://www.rapra.net/bpsas.htm
Date forwarded: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 12:09:21 -0500
From: "RecycleWorlds" <anderson@msn.fullfeed.com>
To: "GreenYes" <greenyes@earthsystems.org>
Date sent: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 11:09:28 -0600
Subject: [GRRN] "Natural" Plastic
Forwarded by: greenyes@earthsystems.org
Forwarded to: multiple recipients of <greenyes@earthsystems.org>
> According to the 1/11/00 Wall Street Journal, Cargill and Dow are "ready
> to launch full-scael commercial production of a new kind of 'natural
> plastic' made from plants, sucha s corn or wheat, instead of
> petroleum....[said to be] a cost efficient way to make durable platic from
> the natural chemicals in common plants." Prior efforts in this direction
> have been to expensive to be commercial, they claim. The name of the new
> plasitc is polylactide or PLA and is said to closely resemble PET or
> polyester and be biodegradable and usable in fottd containers, as well as
> textiles. "For labeling purposes,the company is petitioning the federal
> trade regulators to classify PLA as a whole new category of plastic.
>
> Does anyone have any information about this effort, especially as to
> whether it truly has any serious potential to be used as container
> material, and, if so, its impacts on recycling programs relative to any
> environmental benefits.
>
> Peter
> ____________________________________
> Peter Anderson
> RecycleWorlds Consulting
> 4513 Vernon Blvd. Ste. 15
> Madison, WI 53705-4964
> Phone:(608) 231-1100/Fax: (608) 233-0011
> E-mail:recycle@msn.fullfeed.com
>
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====================================
Dawn Amore
National Recycling Coalition
1727 King Street, Suite 105
Alexandria, VA 22314-2720
Phone: (703) 683-9025, ext. 205
Fax: (703) 683-9026
E-mail: dawna@nrc-recycle.org
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